Theology on the Go

From our audio archives:

What do we think when we think about heaven? Is heaven our eternal home? Derek Thomas joins us for conversation about the delightful topic of heaven and the new earth. He’s currently the senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, SC.

In this encouraging conversation, Derek tells us about his book, Heaven on Earth: What the Bible Teaches about Life to Come. Drawing from Scripture, he outlines what happens immediately after death, and further: how our view of the life to come shapes our present hope. Find out how Derek answers the age-old question, “Will there be dogs in heaven?”

Show Notes

Isaiah 65 and 66

2 Peter 3

Revelation 21 and 22

Romans 8

Westminster Confession of Faith chapter XXXII

1689 Baptist Confession chapter XXXI

The Savoy Declaration of Faith chapter XXXI

From our audio archives:

Last time, our hosts discussed why one must study theology. Now Jonathan and James give practical tools to do just that in the form of book recommendations. These will encourage us to see the importance of the doctrine of God. They will also teach us something about contemplative theology and gazing at our Lord. James outlines the books he’s found most helpful throughout the years and why. He expands on the way the doctrine of God is addressed in each. And don’t fear, the books vary from entry-level to the scholastic, so you’re certain to find something. And as is said - from the Patristic era, to the Middle Ages, all the way to contemporary writers, there is a book for everyone. We invite you to listen, take note, and grow in grace and knowledge.

From our audio archives:

Theology on the Go starts the new year with an exciting announcement. Jonathan Master is pleased to introduce his new regular co-host Dr. James Dolezal. James is not only Jonathan’s friend but also a colleague at Cairn University where he teaches trinitarian theology, church history, and philosophy. Sometimes, new beginnings call for a reflection on why we do the things we do, so James and Jonathan go back to basics and want to discuss why we should study theology. James uses Psalm 46 to help us think through how theology is a mixed discipline of theory and practice, and taking God at His word requires us to know who He is and our relation to Him. So, if you think that the study of theology is a leisure activity for people with a lot of time on their hands, our hosts want to dismiss such idea. Theology is for every child of God in whatever capacity they may find themselves, in times of peace, or times of trouble! Enjoy this great episode!

In this episode of Theology on the Go, hosts Jonathan and James sit down with their friend and frequent guest, Gary Schnittjer, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Cairn University. Today they discuss Gary’s forthcoming commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah which has been many years in the making. Gary shares his journey of teaching and writing about this often-overlooked biblical text, uncovering the complexities and challenges of its narrative. 

I mean, it's a really important book because it puts on display something we don't always put enough time into. And that is God's great work of redemption. – Gary Schnittjer

The conversation explores themes of God's faithfulness, human rebellion, and the often misunderstood ending of the book. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that promises to change the way you view Ezra and Nehemiah!

For an opportunity to win a copy of Gary’s book, Ezra-Nehemiah, published by Baker Academic, enter here. The winner will be selected in early November when the book is released. 

Show Notes:

Gary’s Substack page: https://garyedwardschnittjer.substack.com/

To order a copy of Gary’s book when it is released on November 1st, click here. 

If you enjoy thinking deeply about Christian theology, today’s episode is for you! Jonathan and James discuss the historic Council of Chalcedon, an ecumenical gathering convened for the principal purpose of reasserting the teachings of the ecumenical Council of Ephesus against the teachings of Eutyches and Nestorius. They explore the significance of the Chalcedonian definition which describes Christ as one person with two distinct natures—divine and human—united without confusion or separation. The conversation navigates through historical heresies while examining the legitimacy and implications of referring to Christ as a "composite person." Join them as they unpack these theological complexities and their relevance to a modern understanding of the Incarnation.

Thanks to the generosity of Banner of Truth Publishing, we are pleased to award two copies of The Glory of Christ by John Owen to our listeners. Congratulations to John F. from York, PA and Hull F. from Spring Hill, FL!

He’s back! Jonathan and James are once again joined by their good friend, Gary Schnittjer, a distinguished professor of Old Testament at Cairn University, to discuss his latest book, Connected: How Scripture Guides the Study of Scripture. In this work, Gary focuses on the importance of understanding the Bible through its interconnected narrative, emphasizing how it teaches us to study itself. Designed for both newcomers and seasoned readers, Connected offers unique insights into the overarching Gospel story and how to approach Scripture in a way that aligns with Christian faith. 

This book is trying to not go back in time but saying we live within the biblical story, the gospel story of the entire Bible. – Gary Schnittjer

Tune in for an enlightening conversation that we hope enriches your understanding of the Bible.

Thanks to the generosity of B&H Publishing Group, we are pleased to award a copy of Connected to one of our listeners. Congratulations Taylor M. from Bartonville, IL!

Show Notes:

Gary’s Substack page: https://garyedwardschnittjer.substack.com/

To order a copy of Gary’s book, click here. 

You may have heard that our dear friend and colleague James Dolezal was recently struck by a car and suffered very serious injuries. He remains in the hospital and is receiving excellent medical care, but his condition is grave.

Before the accident, James and Jonathan had recorded several interviews for Theology on the Go. Those episodes will continue to be released through August 17. After that, we plan to share selected past episodes from the Theology on the Go archive. We do not yet know what the weeks ahead will hold, but we will keep listeners informed as we are able.

Please pray for James. Pray that the Lord would be pleased to glorify Himself in James’s recovery. Pray for his family, for strength, comfort, and sustaining grace. Pray also for the doctors, nurses, and all who are caring for him. And as you pray, continue to rest in the goodness and sovereignty of our God, who loves His children with a perfect and everlasting love.

James has always loved hearing from Theology on the Go listeners . He loved meeting you at events, interacting with you, and receiving your questions. He loves God's Word and the truths of God's Word, and he loves those who would listen as he and Jonathan would discuss these things over the years.

Thank you for the encouragement you have shown to James and Jonathan, and to this podcast, over many years. We are deeply grateful.

The three J’s – Jonathan, James, and Jeff – continue their exploration of John Bunyan's classic, Pilgrim's Progress, exploring the themes of flattery, ignorance, and the challenges faced by Pilgrims on their journey to the Celestial City. The hosts discuss the dangers of being led astray by deceptive flatterers and the importance of remaining vigilant in faith, especially as one approaches the end of life. 

The closer we get to the Celestial City, the more important it becomes to rehearse those early dealings of God with us. – James Dolezal

Today’s reflections emphasize the need for Christian companionship and the rehearsal of God's faithfulness in our lives.

We should really be cultivating Christian friendships where we do actually discuss not just deep theological things, but also regularly rehearse the goodness and the kindness of God to us. – Jeff Stivason

Reformed Churches describe themselves as confessional, but what does that mean, and what does it matter? Blair Smith, president of the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary, sits down with James and Jonathan today to answer these questions based on his new book, Reformed Confessionalism. Together, they explore the virtues of confessions and how historic confessions serve as guardrails for believers today. 

There are many Christians today, however, who are principally opposed to confessions. They think that confessions get in the way of our reading of the Bible. 

…I would say everybody has a confession, whether it's hidden or whether it's stated. We all have ways that we approach Scripture in which we understand the doctrine of Scripture. And what confessionalism does is it very clearly states what those doctrinal truths are. And it does so based on sort of the ritual of Christian tradition, whether that be ancient with the creeds or whether that be reformational with the Reformed confessions. – Blair Smith

Discover why these doctrines are not just relics of the past but vital tools for understanding Scripture and nurturing a balanced faith in our contemporary world.

We are pleased to award two of our listeners a copy of Blair Smith’s book, Reformed Confessionalism, thanks to the generosity of P&R Publishing. Congratulations to Jenny E. from Spartanburg, SC and Deana D. from Plymouth, MN.

Show Notes

Blessings of the Faith Series: https://www.prpbooks.com/series/blessings-of-the-faith

Jonathan and James are pleased to sit down with their friend and fellow Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals podcast host Carl Trueman, professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Grove City College, to discuss his latest book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity. Carl discusses the moral implications of modern expressive individualism, the quest for control over life and death, and the significance of anthropology in understanding contemporary issues of identity and ethics. 

The telos [ultimate objective] is that we should be like gods. The real telos is we reduce ourselves to nothing.”-- Carl Trueman

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges our understanding of what it means to be human.

We are pleased to award two listeners a copy of Carl’s book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity, thanks to the generosity of Sentinel Publishing. Congratulations to James P. from Summerville, SC and Abhishek P. from Langhorne, PA. 

Show Notes:

To buy your copy of The Desecration of Man, here is a link: https://reformedresources.org/the-desecration-of-man-hardcover/